DESCRIPTIVE TEXT NARRATIVE FOR SMOKE/DUST OBSERVED IN SATELLITE IMAGERY
THROUGH 0045Z December 16, 2010
Cloudiness was widespread across a large region stretching from the Northern Plains to the Southeast. More cloudiness extended from southern California to the Central Plains. Fire and smoke detection using satellite imagery was hindered in these areas due to the cloudiness. Northeastern Gulf of Mexico: The narrow ribbon of light density smoke orientated north-south observed earlier this morning over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico began moving to the north-northwest and was just off the coast of the Florida panhandle near Panama City, Florida just prior to sunset. This smoke was believed to be leftover from numerous fires burning in the Southeastern US yesterday. Western Texas: A small patch of blowing dust which likely originated from a source in western Texas (possibly just east of Midland) moved to the east-northeast during the afternoon passing between San Angelo and Abilene. Gusty winds may have kicked up other areas of blowing dust over portions of New Mexico and western Texas during the afternoon, but cloudiness prevented detection in satellite imagery. JS THE FORMAT OF THIS TEXT PRODUCT IS BEING MODIFIED. IT WILL NO LONGER DESCRIBE THE VARIOUS PLUMES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVE FIRES. THESE PLUMES ARE DEPICTED IN VARIOUS GRAPHIC FORMATS ON OUR WEB SITE: JPEG: http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/ml/land/hms.html GIS: http://www.firedetect.noaa.gov/viewer.htm KML: http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/FIRE/kml.html THIS TEXT PRODUCT WILL CONTINUE TO DESCRIBE SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF SMOKE WHICH HAVE BECOME DETACHED FROM AND DRIFTED SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE SOURCE FIRE, TYPICALLY OVER THE COURSE OF ONE OR MORE DAYS. IT WILL ALSO STILL INCLUDE DESCRIPTIONS OF BLOWING DUST. THE SMOKE TEXT PRODUCT IN GENERAL SHOULD BE SENT TO SSDFireTeam@noaa.gov ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THESE CHANGES OR THE SMOKE TEXT PRODUCT IN GENERAL SHOULD BE SENT TO SSDFireTeam@noaa.gov